Page 90 of The Mob: Shio Cuppacio

Demise. Was that the Don?

“Well, I’m Jisei. I’m…” She paused and looked at Dasani, who shook her head no. “I’m Dasani’s sister-in-law. Ezio, the light-skinned one, is my husband,” she boasted, showing every tooth in her mouth.

She was also pretty. I was able to point out every label she’d been wearing, from the short Oscar de la Renta black halter dress to the Gianvito Rossi heels that wrapped around her leg. It all costed money—lots of it.

“He’s lucky to have you as a wife. Nice to meet you.”

Jisei’s grin grew.“Yeah… I like her.”

“Well, again, I’m Mocha. The chocolate nigga next to the one with the dreads is my husband.”

We looked to where Mocha pointed. A handsome, dark-skinned man with deep waves stood next to an equally handsome guy with long locs. The one with the locs had a frown on his face, like the other had been annoying him.

“Nice to meet you. Yours is lucky as well.”

Mocha took a sip of her champagne. “Unh hunh! Period, pooh.”

“I’m Scarlett. Jisei and Mocha are my best friends. The one that looksoh so happyto be here is my husband. Shio and the rest of the Cuppacio men are also my cousins.”

Scarlett’s face was like an upside-down heart, and in her black Tom Ford form-fitting jumpsuit, I could see that her bottom had the same shape. Her hair was similar to mine, except it was shorter.

“Is he… okay?” He looked like he was ready to blow the entire building up.

Everyone looked at each other and laughed. Clearly, it was an inside joke, but in order not to feel awkward, I chuckled too.

“Girl, no and yes.” They laughed again. “He's okay. Matteo is just mean at times.”

Dasani scoffed. “At times? That nigga is meanallthe fucking time.”

“Right! He is only nice to Princess, Scarlett, and now Pearla,” Mocha mentioned.

“What about my sister?”

Two pregnant women sauntered over. One looked as if she was ready to go into labor at any moment, while the other sported a cute bump. I’d seen Maura pregnant multiple times and could tell she was approaching her second trimester. She had on rose heels that were to die for, with a rose pinned in her hair that had been brushed to the side, while curls cascaded down her shoulder. The one that was about to pop was wearing a baby-doll-style dress that went around her neck. Instead of heels, she was in Hermes sandals and rightfully so. Still, she looked good.

“Pia, don’t come over here with all that,” Mocha shooed.

“I was just telling Solana that Matteo was mean to everyone sometimes, but Mocha says he’s nice to hissister, Pearla,” Scarlett spoke in a teasing manner.

Pia rolled her eyes so hard I knew they had traveled through the back of her skull. “Ugh, that nigga is not her brother.”

“DNA says he is, boo. Sharing is caring.” Dasani clucked.

“Leave my man alone!” Scarlett said in a high-pitched tone. “He’s so happy he has a sister now. He’s been nicer to everyone since finding out.”

There was so much love in Scarlett's eyes as she spoke about her husband. It stirred something in my belly, but at the same time made me feel sad. I’d never know what that feels like. Anytime my future husband comes to mind, I want to barf.

“Ughhh. Patty knows she wrong for that one. Pearla and I don’t do brothers.”

The ladies continued to laugh and tease.

“You’re pretty. Hey, I’m Discover.” She held her hand out and I took it. Discover looked so familiar, but I couldn't place where I’d seen her before.

“Hi, I’m?—”

“Mexi-Mami,” the one they called Pia said. “My son is Neltz. He told me he met you at his Uncle Shio’s house. Couldn't stop talking about you.” Pia’s perfectly filled-in brow rose in a questioning manner, but the grin on her face had me offering her a tight smile as well.

Pia looked no older than me. There was no way she had a son around Neltz’s age. But then again, I could see the resemblance. She was beautiful. Neltz was handsome. I’d been right with my assumption that he’d come from a set of attractive parents, or at least an attractive mom.